According to the official results, the proposal had passed by 51.2% to 48.8% in the referendum.

The measure has been widely criticized not only by the Swiss religious organizations and human rights groups but also by the federal government.

Describing the vote as a dark day for the community, the Central Council of Muslims in Switzerland said: “Today's decision opens old wounds, further expands the principle of legal inequality, and sends a clear signal of exclusion to the Muslim minority.”

The group also said that they would challenge the decision.

The government had argued against the ban emphasizing saying it was not up to the state to dictate what women wear.